A/N: Hello and welcome back to The Life Channel! It's been a while, but I am finally back with another chapter. This was one of my most progressive chapters in the sense of character development so sit back and enjoy. I hope everyone is staying safe and thanks to all those who have followed and favorited this story so far.

Note: "Italics with quotation marks " is the dialogue between characters in the past.

Chapter 13- Sisters and Brothers

"Growing up may come sooner than anticipated. It's too late when the realization hits and there's nothing left to do anymore."

No One's POV

Location: Garden

Leo's senses come back and he groans, feeling the softness on his hands. He opens his eyes and sees grass. It's all around him along with a lot of green bushes and roses of different colors like red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, and white.

"Luna?"He calls looking around. There is silence except for the sudden wind and breeze that brushes all the greenery around. After a while, Leo asks, "Where am I?"

"My garden, of course," a sweet voice speaks. A bit scared, Leo frantically looks around and stands up. "Who's there?" There isn't anyone around.

"Don't be afraid boy… Now go, explore my terrain if you are up to this challenge."

Leo sees a path and begins to walk. He's in awe. He might not be a fan of flowers or gardens like his sister is, but he must agree that all of it is really beautiful. Shortly, he comes upon an opening with tall walls of bushes that lead to the unknown.

"Welcome, Leo, to TheMaze of Life," the voice returns. To him, it sounds like Luna's, but much older; much more mature. He's unsure whether to trust it or not.

"What do I have to do?" He questions

"Simple, Leo. Go through, and find the exit. I promise it'll lead to what you want."

"Where's Luna? Where's everyone?"He orders.

"You don't have to worry. Kevin is taking care of her, but if you want to see your sister ever again, fight on through this maze."

"Kevin is taking care of her…" He repeats. Ever since he appeared that night, Luna has been calmer; more sure of herself. "Just like before the incident." If he didn't care for her sister, he wouldn't face the maze, but of course, with everything that they have faced, he takes the steps to the unknown.

"I will see you on the other side then, Leo," the voice tells him.

Left; then right, I went. Okay. Then, forward, to the right… Right? Leo has stopped for a break. He's sitting down trying to understand where to go next. He started going in random directions, but now he's lost. Leo groans, now a bit annoyed. He sighs and shakes his head.

"There's something in your mind, Leo," the voice finally returns.

"Well, yes. I'm trying to get out of this maze, but now, I feel like I'm going in circles."

"Of course, but I meant that you have other concerns besides that in your mind."

Leo stays quiet for a bit and then sighs. "I don't- How did I even beat Greiger?" He's confused, lost, and honestly, a bit hungry.

"With pure skill, of course. You know, your sister believed in you and she even believed in that duel."

"She did?" he asked, surprised and a bit relieved.

"Yes."

Leo smiles, happy. He knows he's not as close as he used to be with Luna, but she's his sister. He loves her and he just wants her to look up to him for whatever life throws at her. He knows even if he's too playful around her, he wants her to always tell him her worries no matter what. That's what siblings are for.

"Who are you?" He then asks with a serious tone.

The voice is quiet for a bit but then answers, "Who do you think I am?"

Leo thinks for a bit. "You kinda sound like Luna, but much more mature. Like Luna isn't much more mature than me already," he quickly adds, "but I feel like you are older. Are you from the future?"

"Hmm. I see." Then the voice adds. "I am Green, a Color Being, who can help you on this journey if you accept."

"Oh, yes please", Leo says desperately. "Please Green." For some weird reason, Leo feels the smile around him.

"I sound like your sister, you say. Interesting."

Leo nods. "Yup. Where are you though?"

"Come, let's continue and I'll explain on the way," the voice tells him. He nods and stands back up. Green begins to lead him through the maze.

Goodwin stands by the window of the tower, very pleased by the results. He knew Kevin and Luna were a special couple. They both possess marks like Yusei: who is confirmed a signer. The kids have blue marks and he knows exactly where that comes from. A long time ago, before he knew about the legend of The Crimson Dragon, he used to analyze and study a very rare life-changing occurrence with his long-lost friend. That was a really long time ago, but now, if he could have them join the fight with his signers, the world will be a far better place.

Goodwin turns to Jack, who has been looking at his mark on his arm. "Tell me, Goodwin, what do you have planned now that those two are fighting their way up to me?" He questions indifferently.

"In due time, Jack. Now, let's see if this Akiza girl is as special as we have hoped her to be." He looks over to Lazar. He nods and grins.

Backstage in the garage, Kevin is tinkering with his duel runner when Yusei stops by.

"Hey Yusei," Kevin calls excitedly.

"Amazing duel, Kevin. Congrats on the victory," he says with a grin.

"Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without Luna though." He smiles at the memories of how she's been there since day one to help him move forward.

"Is she doing okay?" Yusei asks with concern in his voice.

Kevin nods. "Yeah, but the duel was a bit heavy on her. She's resting now. She will be okay."

He nods relieved. "You and Luna have marks too it seems."

Kevin pulls up the sleeve where the outline of his mark is and shows it to Yusei. "Yeah, we don't know how or why, but it's there."

Yusei reaches for his belt and offers Kevin his cards. "Here, you will need all the help you can get to fight Jack and figure out what exactly Goodwin wants with you two."

Kevin nods and takes his cards. He puts them with his cards on his belt. "Thank you. And I'm sorry for stopping you from taking on Jack. I didn't want to intervene but-"

Yusei raises his fist to him. "Don't worry about it. You find the answers you need to your past and I'll take on Jack when the time comes. In the meantime, you'll have my support." Kevin bumps his fists with Yusei and smiles.

"Thanks!"

Back at the stands, Dexter, Kevin, and Yanagi are sitting; waiting for the next duel to start.

"Where is Luna?" Dexter asks Kevin, a bit confused.

"She's resting. The duel was a bit heavy for her, but she'll be back in a bit," he explains.

"I can't believe you also have a mark," Yanagi tells him. "You and Luna."

Kevin nods. "Yeah, it's something alright." He then frowns a bit worried for Luna. Before being taken away by the medics, he'd ask her if she would like to sit out the next match, but of course, she had denied.

"No, Kevin. I'm okay. I just need to rest, but I'll be ready for the next match. Don't worry and don't you dare start it without me. Whoever wins the next match; Greiger or Akiza, I want to be by your side through it all." He smiled at her and he decided to give her a small kiss on her forehead as reassurance before the medics took her away. He's hoping he doesn't have to face Akiza, but she has answers from his past. He has to get them one way or another, but right now, dueling her is the only option.

Somewhere in the back hallways, Akiza is holding a white mask in both hands, worried and unsure.

"You don't need this anymore," a redhead guy tells her.

"But, I can't duel without it now, Sayer. I can't face that crowd," she tells him. He steps forward and grips her shoulders. "Come on, don't listen to them, Akiza! You're not who they think you are. You have special powers, that's why you joined our group." He gently takes the mask away. "You're a psychic, not a sorceress. You don't need this mask."

She looks at him, slightly bereft without it.

"It's time we stop living in the shadows, Akiza. It's time the world knew about people like us."

She looks away and her thoughts suddenly go to that boy from the last match. He was able to beat Yusei. That guy she saw in the streets that day. And why does that Kevin kid seem so familiar? Suddenly, she gasps and sees an image of her and some kid. She's at The Duel Academy and he's there with her hand-in-hand.

"Akiza, are you okay?" Sayer questions snapping her from her thoughts. He has his hands on her shoulders. She nods and for some reason, decides to give him a satisfying answer.

"Yeah, I am just tired. That is all." She has not lied to Sayer ever since he had gained her trust a few years ago, but somehow, she knew it was the best option if she didn't want him questioning her. Either way, she knew that she was going to face Kevin and that girl Luna. Answers will come from that and Sayer was not to be involved in her affairs.

Back in the Kaibadome, the lights turn dark as the match is about to begin. The Announcer's voice booms into the crowd, "Welcome back to our second Semi-final duel! There has been a change. Unfortunately, Greiger won't be making it to this match. Now entering the arena in his place- the dueling detective, Commander Koda!" He is pinned down by a triple spotlight and enters the arena via an elevator platform on the ground. "And his opponent- The mysterious girl who we still don't have anything on besides that she can be a bit dangerous… So brace yourselves people, Miss Akiza Izinski." Her entrance is the same as Koda's, but there are voices of distaste in the crowd.

"Look, the witch is back!"

"Boo!"

"Get her out of here!"

Sayer just watches from his usual doorway.

"Get ready to duel!" The Announcer exclaims.

"Last time she dueled, she almost blew this building down," Dexter points out. Kevin watches her carefully, with full concern. She looks really mad. Like there is a pain in her eyes, but also frustration. Why do they call her a witch if she saved him before? He doesn't understand. "Hmm."

Location: Endless Ocean

There's the ocean all around. It spreads to the infinite spectrum of all corners of this world. Blue's world to be exact. Above the ocean is glass, naked to the human eyes. On a certain spot above the glass is a blue chair with blue crystals on it. On that chair sits Blue watching and patiently waiting. That is until White appears in front of him. He was so enjoying the peaceful and calm waves until he felt that little disturbance in his space.

"Hello, Blue."

"White." He opens his blue eyes and nods. "What brings you to my home this time?"

"I am a little bit disturbed now… She clearly states. "First, you change the timeline, then you have Kevin and Luna duel together, and to top it all off, they win against the most legendary duelist of all times, Yusei Fudo. What are you planning?"

He grins and smiles. "Our Freedom, of course."

Suddenly, everything turns white and in a split second, White has Blue by the throat. "What do you mean?" She questions, now a bit worried.

Blue then vanishes and everything returns back to normal. White is a few feet away and Blue is back sitting on his throne. "That is not nice, White… Remember, you are in my terrain."

She sighs. "Very well. Explain please, before I take matters into my own hands."

"Oh, White. Decisions, decisions, decisions… Do not worry, I promise everything will make sense once events are set into motion. Just like you wanted or are you scared?"

"Pfft. Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. I'm just warning you. If you mess this up, I will come for you first and you won't like where I put you."

Blue frowns and sighs. "Don't be so negative, White," he says and then whispers, "And I thought your husband was the dark one." He then smiles at her. "I assure you, it will lead to what you want. Plus, I have Green taking care of a little problem at the moment."

"What!?" She then disappears.

"Oh, darling. If I was the dark one you would totally understand me."

Location: Garden Center

In the journey through the maze, Green asks Leo his thoughts on Kevin and Luna, Mr. Amnesia man, and about his past relationship with his sister. "I'm just glad Luna has him. Kevin, I mean. Ever since she was little, she's been an amazing duelist, but her health has kept her from being the best. I was jealous... " He pauses and continues, "She's way better at me at everything and now, I'm not mad. Just sad, that I wasn't there for her all the time…" He then laughs. "I saw her holding Kevin's hand. She must feel safe with him even though they just met. Is that weird?" He hears Green chuckle. "To be honest, I am just glad he's there for her unlike me. I kinda abandoned her when she needed me the most after our parents left for their trips."

He stays quiet for a bit and Green continues leading him through the corridors and walkways. After a bit more silence, he continues explaining how cool it was to duel Mr. Amnesia man. He had lost against him when he tried to help him get his memories back, but all that helped him understand a bit about how to be strategic in a duel against his opponent. He would never forget that.

Finally, he exits the maze and enters a clearing. "Oh, I would have never gotten out without your help. Thank you, Green."

"No problem," and suddenly, a being begins to materialize in front of him and a very beautiful girl appears.

"Woah." He's in awe, but what's different about this girl is that her skin is all green. She wears a green dress with white lines traveling in different directions on her arms and legs.

"Hello, Leo. I am Green."

"Hum, hi. You're very pretty," he says a bit shy.

She laughs. "Thank you. So, to be correct you see me as a female?"

He nods. "Yeah."

"Alright then, well, how about a fun duel to see if you advance to the next phase." A green duel disk appears on her arm. Leo smiles and he holds out his arm. A blue academy duel disk appears on his arm. "I'm so down. Let's do this!"

Kevin's POV

Back at the stands, Kevin is deep in thought. Akiza Izinski. Sister Rose. She has the power of telekinesis. How the heck do I know that? He thinks as he looks at her blank face, emotionless and straight. She has Violet Witch, a monster with 1100 Attack Points, and the field spell, "Black Garden". Her opponent, Commander Koda, has only one face-down card. Why would he be so reckless at the start?

"It's my turn, I draw," she declares. "Violet Witch, attack him directly!" Her witch points her staff at him and a red light shoots out an electricity stream which explodes on his contact.

"Aaaagh!" He exclaims and is surrounded by a billowing smoke cloud.

"Witch or not, The Black Rose's attack still packs a real punch!" The Announcer exclaims. Koda barely stands, crookedly on the field with his legs braced to keep his balance. His head is bowed down. "Feels just like it did last time, Akiza." He looks at her. "During our match at duel academy!"

"Huh?"

"Duel Academy?" I say momentarily gaining some kind of memory. I close my eyes and I shake my head confused. Focus.

"I've never forgotten; I was a third year, Obelisk Blue. I was set to turn pro. Then this new girl, a Slifer Red walks up and challenges me!" Koda explains.

Why does it sound so familiar! I think.

"Your psychic powers destroyed my deck and almost me along with it! I left pro dueling to study the criminal mind. I've tracked down the most dangerous duelists in New Domino City, but I was saving you for last! And thanks to Goodwin, I've got the card for my vengeance!"

Akiza keeps her face blank, but she seems lost in thought.

The Commander continues, "I know you; you think you're better than anyone else! Look at me, I'm Akiza, the telekinetic! Well, guess what, it's time for justice! I play my facedown trap card 'Criminal Punishment! It activated as soon as you attacked me. And now your monster is completely destroyed." Violet Witch disappears in a poof of yellow sparkles.

"And you just activated her special ability- If Violet Witch is ever sent to the graveyard, I get to take a plant-type monster from my deck and add it to my hand," Akiza explains. "It serves you right for confusing justice with revenge. I select 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis'."

"Akiza, justice is revenge! And your punishment is just beginning," he tells her."Remember my Crime and Punishment trap card? Well, its other effect is to automatically summon a monster from my hand. Like Agent of hatred! You can think of the two of us as good-cop and bad-cop." A nasty worm is summoned with 0 attack and defense points and as soon as it appears, Black Garden wraps it in vines.

"You wanna play in my garden, you gotta pay the price!" Akiza reminds him. "My field spell cuts your monster's attack points in half."

"Not a bad counter effect," he praises her. "Too bad it doesn't have any attack point for you to take away. I know your deck and how to get around your little tricks."

"Then you must've seen this coming, didn't you! Because you summoned Agent of Hatred, I get to summon my very own Rose Token!" Akiza says as a red rose monster appears on her side of the field. "It can't attack, but it can't be destroyed in battle either! So I guess that leaves us with two monsters that aren't really good with anything."

Even though the Commander is trying to get into her bad side, she isn't caving in. Like she knows she's going to come out on top no matter what. That's scary…

Koda adjusts his glasses. "You're wrong again! Hah! I didn't summon my agent to attack, but to use its special ability. So each round I recover the life points I just lost during one of my battles, and that's something your telekinetic powers can't undo! Looks like the Rose has lost her thorns." His life points go back up to 4000.

Suddenly, I begin to feel a tingle on my arm where my mark is. "Are you okay, Kevin?" Dexter asks, a bit concerned. "Your arm… Is it bothering you?"

"It's okay," I tell him. It is bothering you too? I hear Luna's voice.

Yeah… How are you though?

I'm doing well. Thank you, Kevin. Resting has really helped, She reassures me.

I smile and Akiza continues, "I'm summoning Phoenixian Seed to my field in defense mode! Your last move gave me the idea to play this!" Her monster gets wrapped in vines. "See, it doesn't have any attack points to cut in half either, but a rose token is still summoned, and because I summoned the monster, it's going to appear on your side of the field. Now, I activate my 'Rose Flame' trap card! Now let's see your good-cop-bad-cop routine try and handcuff this sweet-smelling maneuver of mine!"

Koda is hit with a swirling jet of flaming rose petals from the card. "Rrrgh-aaaagh!" They flutter around Akiza as Koda sinks to one knee.

"Hah, not bad. I read about that combo the first time you used it when you were five years ago."

"Hmm?" Akiza seems shocked. Koda stands up. He has the upper hand again. This is bad." It was your very first duel when you learned about your curse!" Akiza glares at him. "Your power was uncontrollable; you couldn't stop. You were a danger to yourself and to others."

I close my eyes again and try to grasp another one of my memories, but there's something blocking them.

"Then your parents sent you away for help- yet you refused to give up the power that you had inside of you!"

"I'm learning to control it," Akiza tells him, defensive. "I want to use it so I can help people."

"Help people?" Koda questions. "You've caused nothing but destruction and pain, including my own! You don't care who your power hurts!"

Akiza looks at her empty hand. "It's not my fault."

"Incompetence, like ignorance, is no excuse Akiza!"

"But I am not looking for excuses," she defends.

"Once this duel is over, I know that you will thank me for this. My job is to make sure society is safe, and I don't plan on letting society down. I'm going to send you to a special facility to cure you of your afflictions whether you like it or not!" Koda exclaims as Akiza looks down, face hidden."

No one's POV

Location: Garden Center

Leo stands back as he faces a very giant machine. It makes a mechanical sound and its blue and red orbs on its shoulders, chest, and stomach glow bright. "I can't…" Leo says scared. Suddenly, all the greenery around begins to wither. The clear blue cloudless sky above is replaced by dark stormy clouds. "Doubt. Leo is doubting."

"Oh, no…" Green says, now worried. A black hand comes from the dark clouds above and begins its reach on Leo, but a white light shines bright and repels the giant hand away. In its place stands White.

"What's going on?" Leo questions, now a bit scared. "Who are you?" Then Blue appears beside them.

"You guys okay?" He asks with concern in his voice. All around them, thunder booms, and a sinister laugh echoes. "Don't. Ruin. The. Fun. White."

"Chaos…" Green whispers. White grabs Leo's hand. "Blue, deal with this. We will talk later." She disappears with him. Green and Blue stand side by side as a black being with red-lines skin, red robes, and red eyes appear from the dark clouds above. It descends and stands a few feet away from them.

"Black?" Blue questions, a bit confused. "What happened to you?" He smiles as the tone around them begins to change.

"I. Am. Chaos."

Kevin's POV

I remember Duel Academy. How I started as a lost little boy unsure of what to do, after losing my parents. "My parents! Where are my parents!"

It happened too fast. He was only trying to help me, calm me down, but I exploded and he was soon thrown to the wall by an invisible force. Who was he? "Headmaster? Are you okay? Headmaster!" A young lady with black hair asked him as she helped him up.

"He is just like her…"

During physical class, I was bullied by a big chumpy boy who wanted to take my dueling cards. I pushed him away by that same invisible force, and somehow, a rock-like creature protected me until "she" arrived. She was a beautiful red-headed girl. She was in the Slifer red class. Just like me.

"I won't hurt you. I just want to talk," she told me as she got on her knees. I was sitting on the ground, with my small arms over my small knees.

"But, I'm dangerous," I said unsure and scared. "I don't want to accidentally hurt you too."

"It's okay," she said with a small smile. "Even I struggle to control my powers. I kinda feel bad for demolishing that ceiling, but-" She gave me a small laugh. "Your accident did so much worse."

At that point, I had relaxed a bit and wasn't hiding behind my arms. "Wait, that was you?" I asked, surprised.

She nodded. "Yup. It was just supposed to be a casual duel, but with the tension and emotions, my powers got carried away."

I frowned, remembering the annoyance and how frustrating it was to call that "powers". "Powers? This is a curse! My parents are gone because of me!"

"No, don't think that. Look, I'm scared too, but if we let these gifts affect us, in a negative way, we won't move on and grow."

"Grow… But, how?" I remember looking at her feeling the desperation in my voice. I wanted to feel safe, and I wanted to know that no matter where I went, I wouldn't be with that fear of being judged for who I was.

"We can learn from each other," She said, surprising me. "As long as I'm around, you won't be alone anymore. We will fight this. I will help you. This place isn't really meant for us both, but in the meantime, let's stick together." She got to her feet and held out her hand."I am Akiza."

I smiled as I grabbed it. "I am Kevin."

"Well, Kevin. Let's go grab something to eat. I'm starving."

And then, I remembered being excited for that night. The school festival was to be held in a building with multiple floors. I also found out that Akiza was also bullied. There were some who accepted us, but others who thought we were freaks. At that point, they managed to release Akiza's anger and her "powers" accidentally tore down that building. I never knew what it was to have fun in a school festival.

That night, we ran. She held my hand as we ran through the streets and she cried, apologizing to me. "I'm sorry, Kevin. I'm sorry I ruined everything. I'm so sorry." That was the only time I saw her cry her heart out, and the only time, I didn't say anything besides hugged her in support.

That's when he found us. "I am Sayer and I am head of The Arcadia Movement. We're a group of people with powers like yours and his. We can help you." Then, Sayer did give us strength. He did give us hope, but why didn't it last? What happened?

No one's POV

The pain in Kevin's arm is what finally snatches him awake. He manages to see Akiza's dragon explode in a big gray puff of smoke. A red claw mark is on Akiza's right arm as she covers herself from the explosion.

Up in the tower, Jack confirms, "She's a signer."

"Excellent. Three down and only two more to go," Lazar says excitedly. Akiza stands in the flames, her red hair waving crazily in the air.

"You okay, Kevin?" Dexter asks. "You spaced out during Akiza's duel." He nods as Akiza continues.

"A nice spell, but I still have my trap card, 'Rose Curse'!" It reveals and a tornado of red petals swirl out of it. "You spend so much time studying my past that you never even stopped to look at the person I've become." The pedals begin to surround Professor Koda. "And because of that, your life points are now going to suffer for your narrow-mindedness. My Rose Curse is a new card. One that you could never profile." The pedals swirl around him as he yells in pain. "But you brought this upon yourself!" Chunks of the ground fly to him and he gets obliterated by the tornado of red pedals. When it clears, he lies on the ground with ripped clothes and life points at zero.

"It's over!" The Announcer exclaims. "The Black Rose is our winner!"

"I didn't see that coming," A half-conscious Commander says.

"She'll move on to the final to take on our dream-team couple, Kevin and Luna!" Kevin notices her mark disappear, and in the hallway above, Sayer stands, happy and satisfied for Akiza's win.

"Another fine, Victory. You have grown. You're learning to control your powers and I hope it goes well for the little reunion with Kevin. I have a feeling he will be the biggest test you have ever faced."

"Are you awake Luna?" Kevin asks, a bit worried.

"Yes," She responds. "I'm glad I rested."

"Yes because tonight's match will be our toughest and dangerous one yet."

A/N: The battle between Kevin/Luna and Akiza will be the most challenging one yet for me to write and explain. I want it to be an epic duel and also tell a bit of their background of how they met and how they grew to survive against those who tried to break them apart. Kevin once felt that his gifts were a curse. Now, Akiza is in his shoes and he will need to remind her that things happen for a reason. It's not good to give in to negative thoughts. So how will she move on now? Will Kevin say enough to convince her to see reason?

Expect the next chapter in less than a month. I will try my best to give it to you guys before the halfway point of April. No promises, but I will say that the wait will be worth it. Rate and Review of any kind will be highly appreciated. Thanks and until next time, Peace.